Man Critically Injured In Fire

Hours after firefighters raced from a burning Hartford apartment Thursday carrying a 5-year-old girl and a 34-year-old man, the two were in critical condition in special oxygen chambers.

Firefighters had found the man, Jofre Perez, crumpled on the living room floor beneath shattered windows and the child, Josibekis Aponte, on a couch nearby after forcing their way into the fourth- floor apartment at 194 Washington St.

Outside, rescuers frantically administered CPR to both. Police Officer Peter Getz then swept the little girl into his arms, placing her into a cruiser. He continued CPR as Officer Scott Cochran drove to Hartford Hospital.

Josibekis was later taken to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield and put inside a hyperbaric chamber.

Perez, whom firefighters described only as a relative of the girl, is in critical condition on a watch list at Norwalk Hospital, also in a hyperbaric chamber.

The mother, who also lived in the apartment, was at work at the time, fire officials said.

A firefighter was treated at the scene for heat exhaustion, Lt. Peter Ryan said.

The fire, Ryan said, ``damaged the entire unit but luckily it held to that one.''

Fire Inspector Edward Casares Jr. said the blaze appeared to be accidental, starting in the bedroom. He is still investigating.

A smoke alarm went off about 9 a.m. Neighbors could get no answer when they knocked on the door of Apartment 406. Carlos Diaz, whose apartment is next door, ran to look outside his window. He said he heard a crackling and then saw glass flying as the living room windows blew out.

Meanwhile, property manager Rick Ricard mobilized his crew as one of his workers saw flames flicking out the window. The building superintendent tried to get inside with his pass key, but the heat from the door pushed him back, Ricard said.

The fire burned the bed and clothing inside the apartment's bedroom. In the living room, Josibekis' stuffed animals lay in a sodden, soot-covered heap.